Cushioned shoe innersole construction



Aug. 27, 1968 E. BRESSAN CUSHIONED SHOE INNERSOLE CONSTRUCTION 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1967 INVENTOR. E910 Bressam $2a4 &

ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1968 E. BRESSAN 3,398,469

CUSHIONED SHOE INNERSOLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 8, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. E w Bresswm/ ATTURNEYS United States Patent 3,398,469 CUSHIONED SHOE INNERSOLE CONSTRUCTION Ezio Bressan, 1526 Glenking Lane, Alliance, Ohio 44601 Filed Dec. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 689,183 8 Claims. (Cl. 3611.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An innersole construction for shoes having a threelayer lamination comprising a shaped sole member composed of a cork and Juta mixture bound together by rubber and die cast to conform to foot contours, a thin sheet foam rubber intermediary, and a foam rubber arch insert stitched to a ventilated leather covering having a downturned edge extending under the shapedsole member and cemented thereto make a complete unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relates to a shoe innersole construction and more particularly to a contoured, laminated cushion innersole construction having a built-in arch support especially adapted for use in sandals, loafers and other casual types of shoes.

Description of the prior art Under present practice the innersoles of sandal-type shoes have normally been constructed of one or more layers of leather and/or sponge rubber or the like held together by an adhesive or stitching.

While'the prior art further discloses an innersole member shaped to the contour of the foot and also shows separately a sponge rubber arch support, one of the innersoles now in general use has combined the several elements of the invention, nor do they provide the combined characteristics of comfort, support and attractive appearance thereof and longevity of structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention may be briefly described as a cushioned shoe innersole construction comprising a shaped sole member molded or die-formed from a combination of Juta. (specifically processed jute) and ground cork bound together by a rubber binder, a thin sheet of foam rubber cemented over the entire upper surface of the shaped sole member, a substantially half-moon-shaped foam rubber arch support pad cemented upon the top of the foam rubber sheet, and a soft leather cover having its edges turned under and cemented to the underside of the shaped sole member.

The leather cover is stitched to the peripheral portion of the arch support pad and the portion of the leather cover directly over this pad is perforated. The usual metal shank, covered with layers of paper or the like, is attached to the underside of the shaped sole member and the lower surface of the laminated innersole is then cemented or otherwise attached to the main hard leather sole and heel of the sandals, the ends of the sandal straps being attached between the innersole and main sole as in conventional manner.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a cushion shoe innersole construction comprising a die-cast or molded shaped sole portion, a thin sheet of foam rubber attached to the upper surface thereof, a foam rubber arch support pad attached to the upper surface of the thin sheet of foam rubber, and a soft leather cover having its edge portions turned under and attached to the undersurfa'c'e of the shaped sole member.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an innersole construction in which the leather cover is stitched to the peripheral edge of the arch support pad.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inner-sole construction of the character referred to in which the leather cover is perforated over the area of the arch support pad.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved cushioned shoe innersole in the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a cushioned innersole construction embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a cushioned innersole constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken as on the line 3-3, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded transverse sectional view of the several components;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken as on the line 5-5, FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sandal comprising an innersole embodying the invention applied to conventional shoe sole, heel and sandal straps.

The improved innersole construction is composed of the molded or die formed sole member indicated generally at 1, the intermediate foam rubber sheet indicated generally at 2, the foam rubber arch support indicated generally at 3, and the soft leather cover indicated generally at 4.

The shaped sole member 1 is die-formed or molded to desired shape from a composition of jute, ground cork and rubber binder. The jute may be specially processed and obtained under the name Juta. The proportions are preferably 60% Juta, 25% cork and 15% rubber.

This shaped sole member 1 is shaped to conform to the contour of the foot, as shown in the drawing, being longitudinally arched or curved as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the top surface thereof being concaved by the provision of the upwardly curved rim portion 5 extending entirely around the edge thereof.

The intermediate layer 2 is formed from a substantially thin foam rubber sheet cut into proper shape to fit upon the shaped sole member 1, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, and in assembling the components of the innersole this foam rubber sheet is cemented to the upper surface of the sole member 1.

The foam rubber arch support 3 is half-moon-shaped and has the substantially straight outer edge 6, conforming to the shape of the adjacent edge portion of the sole member 1, and the arcuate inner edge 7. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 this arch support is tapered toward the arcuate edge 7. The arch support 3 is cemented upon the top of the intermediate foam rubber sheet 2.

The cover 4 is formed of a thin sheet of soft pliable leather, shaped to cover the other components of the innersole and is double stitched, as indicated at 8 in FIG. 2, around the arcuate edge portion of the arch support 3. The leather cover 4 is perforated, as indicated at 9, over the area of the arch support pad 3.

As in conventional practice, a metal shank 10 may be located centrally beneath the arched portion of the sole member 1, being connected to the underside thereof as by layers of heavy paper 11 or the like which are cemented or otherwise secured thereto. The usual eyelet 12 may connect the rear end portion of the metal shank to paper covering 11.

around the outer edge of the sole member 1, as indicated at 13, the lower portion thereof being slit, as indicated at 14, and turned under and cemented to the lower surface of the body member 1 as indicated at 15. This produces a formed cushioned innersole shaped to the contour of the foot with built-in ventilated arch support and conventional metal shank complete as a single unit. This complete unit of shaped cushioned innersole may then be mounted upon a main hard leather sole 16 and heel 17, being connected thereto in any usual and well known manner as by cementing or the like. The ends of the shoe straps 18 and 19 may be fixed between the inner sole and main sole, as indicated in FIG. 6, producing a finished sandal or the like.

This special construction of innersole thus produces a sandal which will not only provide extra comfort for the wearer,'but will help a defective foot with a low arch or any foot that needs support for the arch.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of a preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cushioned shoe innersole construction comprising a die-formed, longitudinally arched body member formed of a composition of jute, cork and rubber binder,

a layer of sheet foam rubber attached to the upper surface of the formed body member, ahalf-moonsliapd foam rubber arch support attached to the upper surface of said layer of sheet foam rubber and a leather cover over the top thereof, theedgesof said leather cover being turned downand under the b ody member and attached thereto? Q; ,1.

2. A cushioned shoe innersole construction as defined in claim 1 in which the upper -,sur;face'of the body memberis concavedu 3. A cushioned shoe innersole construction as defined in claim 1 in which the leather cover is stitched to the inner edge portion of "the foam rubber arch. support.

4. A cushioned shoe innersoleconstruction as defined in claim 3 in which the leather cover isperforated over the area ofthe foam rubber archsupport.

5. A cushionedshoe innersole construction as defined in claim 3 in which the upper surface of the hody member is concaved and in which the leather cover. is perforated over the area of the foam rubber arch support.

6. A cushioned shoe innersole construction as jd efined in claim 1 in which the body member is formed of Juta, 25% cork and 15% rubber.

7. A cushioned shoe innersole construction as defined in claim 1 in which a metal shank is attached to the undersurface of the body member.

8. Asandalcomprising a cushioned shoe innersole construction as defined in claim 1, a hard shoe sole and heel attached to the underside ofsaid innersole construction, and straps attached between the edges of said innersole construction and said hard shoesole.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1966 Feinberg 36%4 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

